Read Online The Lady and the Earl by Diedre Clark - Free Book Online Page A

I do not love ?” she asked passionately.  Why were they even having this conversation?
    “Like I said.   You are unique.  Love is not an option for most people.  It i s simply a luxury, an emotion that is overvalued,” Connor said, draining his glass and refilling it yet again. 
    “What a re you saying?  You don’t believe in love ?” she asked in shock.
    “No.  I simply don’t believe it is important to make a marriage work,” came the honest reply.
    “Conn or, how can you be so heartless?   I have to have love.  I cannot and will not marry without it,” Allana said defensively.  Was Connor really this dispassionate about love?
    “Once again, that is why you are unique.  You will get the privilege to choose when most young ladies of your age and rank will not.  I am sorry, but it is true.  Anyway, how did we get on this subject?  Oh right.  Lord Cunningham .  Are you interested in him?” Connor asked flippantly. 
    “No, I am not interested in him.  Why wou ld I be interested in someone I ha ve never met?  I was simply curious.  My friend, Carmon, told me he is quite a fine man…pleasant and agreeable .  Is he?  I’ve only seen him from a distance . ”   She was rambling, and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to give away the one secret no one except Lilly knew.
    *            *          *
    Connor smiled at h is sister .   There was something going on here, but his mind was becoming fuzzy from his drink.  He could not discover what he was missing.  He shrugged.  He figured every girl fantasized about being with an earl, a duke, or a prince .  S ince Declan was the only one available in this area, Connor assumed most girls fantasized about him even if they hadn’t met him. 
    “Well, he is a very agreeable man, ” he said thinking about his friend.  “I mean, since his wife passed away, he has been the most sought after man in London and probably here.  Women cannot seem to stay away from him,” Connor paused, catching a strange look in Allana’s eyes.  Was it jealousy?  “He’s back from London now, you know.”
    “Yes, I heard,” she said, sounding almost embarrassed. 
    The strange look in her eyes changed to something else entirely.  He could have sworn it was a look of worship, but it had been so long since he’d seen any look on her face he could not tell for certain .  He drained his glass yet again and refilled it for the fourth time that night… or was it the fifth?   It could have even been the sixth.  It had been a long time since he’d been drunk, and being home made him feel the need to get very drunk.
    “Haven’t you had enough to drink, Connor?  The bottle is almost empty,” Allana said with concern as she noticed him filling his glass again.
    “It was n’t even half full when I started.  Besides , it’s not for you to worry about .  S top trying to change the subject.  We were talking about Cunningham, not how much I’ve had to drink.”  He cleared his throat, pausing for a moment.  Was he sounding slurred?  “If you are interested, I could introduce you to him, and then you could judge for yourself whether he’ s handsome or charming.  I could always invite hi m to dinner one of these— ”
    “No!” Allana yelped.  “I mean, no.”  She laughed nervously.  “That won’t be necessary.  I was just curious,” she said .
    Interesting, Connor thought.  Why was she panicking over meeting Declan ?  “It would n’t be a problem.  I could go over there tomorrow and have him here by dinner.” 
    “No!  It’s fine, really.  I don’t want to meet him.  As I said before, I was simply curious.  Good night, Connor,” she said briskly, turning quickly and leaving before Connor could press her further about it.
    “That was odd,” Connor said aloud , pouring the rest of the bottle into his glass .  If he didn’t know better, he woul d think she fancied Declan .  But then he remembered